Private Collection Glenlivet 1943Single Malt - Scotland - 45.00%8The Glenlivet is another whisky that I have encountered at great ages, often past their best. This shows its age only in its raffish, extrovert, confidence.

Private Collection Imperial 1990 Calvados FinishSingle Malt - Scotland - 40.00%6As with the Caol Ila wood finishes reviewed in the last issue, the calvados is a powerful influence but the whisky does fight back-makes for an interesting combination.

Private Collection Imperial 1990 Claret FinishSingle Malt - Scotland - 40.00%8The wine seems to have made common cause with the juicy sweetness, and the two have overwhelmed the cereal-grain and peat smoke that usually make this a more robust malt. This version would be a good ...

The state of independentsHow good are the independent bottling companies? We decided to find out in our biggest ever tasting – more than 175 entrants in 24 categories,judged by nine judges over seven weeks. Dominic Roskrow ...September 2005, Issue 50, page 16

Whisky: even in spiritThere is a plethora of special finish styles and now there's a trend for maturation in spirit barrels: is this a progressive move or a gimmick that will outrage traditionalists? Ian Wisniewski investi...September 2001, Issue 18, page 58